Apparatus as aids in extracting teeth



C. C. THOMAS. Denta. Instrument. No. 20,905. Patented July 13, 185s.

N. Eisma Mmmgwphu. vla-engem D4 c OHAS. C. THOMAS, OF NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI.

APPARATUS AS AIDS IN EXTRACTING TEETI-I.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 20,905, dated July 13, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. THOMAS, of Natchez, in the county of Adams and State of Mississippi, have invented a certain l new and useful Dental Instrument, which I term The Dentists Assistant; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which` Figure l, represents the instrument in perspective. Fig. Q, represents a section through the same. F ig. 3 represents a transverse section through the standard, post, or stem of the instrument, and Fig. at, represents one of the fingers detached.

Similar letters of reference where they occur in the several figures denote like parts of the instrument in all.

The object of my instrument is to hold the cheek and tongue, of the patient, away from the tooth or part of the mouth to be operated upon, without inserting the fingers, or drawing back the muscles of the mouth, which not only deprives the operator of the use of one of his hands, but also produces a greater flow of saliva that annoys the patient. And my invention consists in an instrument which is held in place by being grasped between the upper and lower jaw, and which is provided with a pad, for holding out the cheek, as well as a shield guard or finger for holding the tongue away from the tooth or place to be operated upon. By which means the operator has the free use of both his hands while the patient is free from the inconvenience of having the corners of the mouth drawn down or away as heretofore practised.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

a, represents a stem, to whichone of the jaw-rests b, may be permanently attached. The other jaw-rest c, is secured to the stem by a screw shank d, which makes it adjustable, and by which it can be made to spread the jaws more or less, as may be desired. Any other device may be used for this adjustment such as a ratchet and pawl, or rack and pinion, the object being' to spread or contract the jaw or teeth rests b, c.

A collar e is held on the stem a, by set screws 2, 2 so that it may be set at any desired point and there held. there is an arm f, to which the right or left hand shield g (Figs. 1, t) may be adjusted and held by t-he set screw 3,-as the position or circumstances may require. These shields (one a right and the other a left hand one, so as to adapt the instrument to either side of the mouth) have bars or fingers, with spaces between them. Their object is to confine the tongue, and hold it away from the tooth to be operated upon. The saliva can pass through the spaces and the patient can freely swallow while the operator is at work. The points of these fingers are united by a bar 7i but this is not actually necessary, and may be left off. Another collar m, is placed on the stem a, and similarly adj Listed and held by set screws 4, 4. To this collar there is attached a long shank n, over or on which a bar 0, may slide, and be made adjustable by the spring pawl 1" and ratchet teeth s on said bar and shank respectively there being a. thumb lever u, for throwing out the spring pawl. To the end of the bar 0, is attached by a ball and socket, or other elastic joint a metallic pad or cushion w, which is to hold away the cheek, and thus the operator has all the clear space between the points o v, to work in, while the patient is much less inconvenienced than by the old pla-n of operating.

The rests c, incline, as shown in Fig. 8, so as to be more readily adapted to the inclination or angle of the jaws or teeth they are to support.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- A dental instrument having the adjustments substantially as herein stated, and adaptable to the purposes specified.

O. O. THOMAS.

lVitnesses A. B. STOUGHTON, THos. H. UPPERMAN.

On this collar 

